Raise your hand if you like Avocados!!!! As I mentioned before, I absolutely love avocados, they are great with almost everything. But first things first, I will give you the 411 of Avocados.
They come from a tree, yes a tree from the South of Mexico, and guess what? They are a fruit, a botanically large berry containing a single seed. I did not know this until a few years ago, I always thought they were a veggie. They are a member of the flowering plant Lauraceae or Persea americana and cultivated in Tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world. They are green-skinned, fleshy body and they seem to have the shape of a pear. They are full of Vitamins A, B5/6, C, D, K, E, Calcium, Folate, Potassium (more than bananas do), Iron, 15 grams of healthy fat which is more than any other fruits, tons of fiber, in a few words: A SUPERFOOD.
They have different names around the world, “Aguacate”, “Abacate”, “Avocado”, “Avocado Pear”, “Alligator Pear”, “Nahuati Ahuacati”, “Ahuacamolli” meaning avocado sauce or soup, and that’s where the famous “Guacamole” comes from, “Butter Fruit”, and a few other names.
Avocados are not sweet, or sour, but a distinctly and subtly flavor, making them go well with various dishes. For Vegans is just the perfect substitute for meats in sandwiches, salads, juices, and even ICE CREAM.
Two of my favorite things I make with Avocados are: Guacamoles and Smoothies, again I love them and they are great with everything, in fact, my food tastes better when I add avocados. Guacamole is just so good, thus it is one of my favorites. I cut some celery sticks, grab a few baby carrots and you have the perfect snack.
I will share a Guacamole recipe I learned from my Mexican friend, Erick a long time ago. He said it’s his recipe, but I am sure it’s his mom’s, but don’t tell him I said so, Ha!
It goes like this: (Remember this is Erick teaching me how to make a real guacamole) “A real Mexican Guacamole has to be mixed in a “molcajete” (a stone bowl), for all of us that do not have one we can just use a regular bowl.
Ingredients:
2 Avocados (mashed)
¼ Onion (sometimes I use ½), diced
Half Tomato, diced
2 Chiles Verdes, diced
3 Cilantro sticks (secret hint: use all the cilantro sprig, not just the leaves)
1 Lime (remember the green one not the yellow)
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Mix all the ingredients together and voila … there you have it”
Thank you Erick, and by the way he added a little bit of olive oil at the end, and he just forgot to mention it.
And for the Avocado smoothie recipe, this is what I use:
Ingredients:
1 cup of water (sometimes if I want to add a little extra something I use coconut water)
1 cup fresh Kale
1 cup fresh Spinach
1 Cup fresh Pineapple
½ Avocado
Put water or coconut water kale and spinach into the blender, then add the pineapple, blend for one minute, then the avocado and continue to blend until it is totally smooth. I don’t like to add Ice because I am always freezing, but feel free to add some if you like it cold.
Avocados are usually served raw, and often seen as an exotic fruit. Some people have them for breakfast, others for lunch, and others at dinner time, or as a snack which again is my favorite. Avocados are delicious and easy to be incorporated into your diet.
Psss. If you want to prevent Avocados from turning brownish after exposing to air, just splash lime or lemon juice on them, which will help to keep fresh and greenish a little longer.
Enjoy!
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